Fence-machine



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S.v WATSON.

FENCE MACHINE. 'No. 338,893. Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

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Modem 2 Sheets,Sheet 2.

S. WATSON.

FENGB MACHINE. No. 338,893. Patented Mar. 30,1886.

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3 p wan woo ea UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAM WATSON, OF STRAUGHN, INDIANA.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,893, dated March 30, 1886.

Application filed January 14, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAM WATsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Straughn, in the county of Henry and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'inFence-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of fieldfence-making machines in which the wire is strung upon the posts and the pickets held therein by crossing the wires between the pickets, and has for its object to provide a cheap and durable device for that purpose, and which is so constructed that the tension can be kept at any desired point by means of the posts to which the fence is attached.

My invention therefore consists of constructions and combinations, all as will hereinafter be described in the specification, and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the machine ready for use, the side of the reelframe being partially broken away to show the reels; Fig. 2, a top plan of the device shown in Fig. 1, the top of the reel-frame being partially broken away to show the reels; Fig. 3,aplan of the wire-retainer 0 with part broken away to show the wire-retaining bar a, and Fig. 4 an end elevation of the wire-retainer; Fig. 5, a horizontal section of the reel-frame; Fig. 6, alongitudinalsection on lineg y, Fig. 3.

A represents the posts; B, the reel-frame; C, the twister, and D the wires strung upon the posts.

The frameB consists of uprights B, B", and B top B, base B and braces 13. The uprights are provided with suitable openings, b, for the spindles of reels B B, which are arranged in two vertical sets. The reels in set B are journaled in uprights B and B", and have one end, I), of their spindles projecting outside of the uprights B, and the reels B are journaled in uprights B and B, and have one end, b of their spindles projecting outside ofthe upright B". The ends I) and I) are preferably square in cross-section, so that a crank for revolving the reels may be attached thereto. It is desirable in this class of devices after Serial No. 188,581. (ModeL) to one side of the median line and provided with a recess, b which corresponds to the contour of the end of thespindle. In the present instance the recess is square. The middle lock b differs from the top lock, in that it is pivoted near the edge and extends nearly horizontally across the face of the upright, and is shown with a recess, if, of similar shape to that shown in the upper lock. The distal end I; of the arm extends a sufficient distance beyond the spindle to form a handle by which it can be lifted off of the spindle. The lower lock is my preferred form, and consists of a sliding plate having thekey-shaped slot b and the slot b for the pivot b. By raising the plate until the wide-part of the slot 12 incloses the spindle the latter can be revolved, and is prevented from revolving by lowering the plate until the narrow part of the slot embraces the end of the spindle.

The twisterG consists of a beam, 0, to which are attached two or more clevises, 0, having up on their outer ends the pivoted wire-retainers 0. These retainers consist of a plate, 0 having a slot, 0, for the wire-retaining bar 0*, which is held therein by a bolt, 0 The ends of the retaining-bars areprovided with recess a", into which the wires D are inserted.

The operation of the machine is as follows: After the postsA have been set in their proper places, the reel-frame is placed against one of the posts-say the one marked 3. The wires from the reels B are passed around one side of the post and the wire from the reels B around the other side of the post. If desired, the post may have a strip of wood placed between it and the wires from reels 13*, so that said wires will approach the second post at an angle; or, if desired, a board that is wider than the post may be interposed between the machine and post for the same purpose. This board may be attached to the reel-frame or be loose, as may be desired. The wires are now brought together and carried by the intervening post or posts to the post marked 1,to which they are attached in any suitable manner. The reels are now rewound until the wires become stretched between the machine and the post A, (marked 1.) The spindles are now locked in place by the looks I), and the proper tension secured by means of the postA, (marked 3,) or its equivalent. The twister is attached to the wires, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, at a point near the post 1. A picket is inserted between the wires and a downpull given to the twister. This reverses the position of the wireretainers and gives the wire a half-twist. The twister is now moved upon the wires toward the machine, so that another picket can be inserted. Vhen the post marked 2 has been passed by the twister, the wires are secured thereto. The machine can now be moved to the next post (not shown) and the same operation performed.

It will be noted that by passing the wires on each side of the post a tension device for the wires is formed, it only being necessary to run the wires at an obtuse angle to accomplish this result.

In practice it has been found advantageous to temporarily brace the posts marked 1 and 3 with bars E, which prevent the posts from being moved from their vertical position.

What I claim as new is 1. In a fence-machine of the kind described, the combination of a reel-frame, the reels in pairs, the fence-posts against which the reelframe is placed, and the wires passing on each side of the fence-post and secured, whereby the wires hold the reel-frame against the post, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fence-machine, the twister having a. pivoted wire-retainer consisting of a plate, 0, having a slot, 0, and a wire-retaining bar, 0, secured in said slot, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a reel-frame, the reels arranged in pairs, the fence-posts, to one of which, acting as a tension-post, the reelframe is secured, and the wires secured, substantially as set forth, and passing on each side of the tension-postin front of said frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAM WATSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. R. BYINGTON, M. F. HALLECK. 

